Southern Damselfly vs Silverfish

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Southern Damselfly Silverfish
Scientific Name Coenagrion mercuriale Lepisma saccharinum
Order Odonata Zygentoma
Family Coenagrionidae Lepismatidae
Size 27-31 mm 10-15mm
Habitat Meadows Indoors
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Africa Worldwide
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Southern Damselfly

A rare and declining European damselfly with a mercury-symbol-shaped mark on segment two. It is restricted to base-rich shallow streams and water meadows.

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Did You Know?

It is named for the mercury-symbol-shaped black marking on the second segment of the male's abdomen.

Silverfish

A primitive wingless insect with a silvery scaled body and three tail filaments. A common household inhabitant.

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Did You Know?

Has existed in essentially the same form for 400 million years making it one of the oldest surviving insect designs.